Chapter One
She could justify what she’d done until she found her husband sprawled in his computer chair window-shopping for motorcycles. He stretched out his lanky form like he relaxed in a recliner, and he whistled through his teeth as he clicked through hogs, Harley wannabes, and other bikes.
Regina Ellison crept across the carpet that imbued their home with the heady scent of newness and covered his eyes with her hands. “Guess who?” She disguised her voice.
“Mildred! I thought you’d left. I told you my wife would be home soon.”
She giggled and slid her hands over his muscled chest to hug him, snuggling her face against his neck. She loved his smell, so masculine and warm. Springy, dark hair curled against the collar of his favorite shirt, relegated by negotiation to weekend wear. He’d had it so long the collar and cuffs had frayed. She’d given up on getting him to throw it away but had extracted his agreement not to wear it in public, because people would think they were dirt-poor. Fortunately he dressed better for work. A successful architect, Linc had designed some of the more innovative office buildings in town.
He bounced his head against her breasts. Amusement tickled her mouth—Linc took advantage of every opportunity to touch her tits. Not that she minded.
“Did you have a good lunch with your mother?” he asked.
“Uh-huh.”
“Where’d you go?”
“Poppy Seed Café. Had Caesar salad with chicken. ” Guilt slithered through her at her omission. “We lost track of time,” she offered in case he wondered why she’d been gone so long.
“So how is she doing?”
“Great. She loves her job. She’s been attending AA meetings regularly.”
“I’m glad you two are talking.”
She nodded. “I am too. She’s a different person since she stopped drinking. I only wish she’d gotten sober a long time ago.” Like for their wedding when her mother had gotten drunk and loud and caused a scene. Or during her childhood when Regina would arrive from school to find her passed out on the couch at three o’clock in the afternoon. She’d never invited friends home. As soon as she was old enough, she had gotten a job, because having nice things was essential to maintaining the illusion that she was a happy girl from a normal family.
She forced back memories of troubled times and gestured at the computer screen. “See anything you like?” If a magic genie appeared to grant Linc a wish, he’d pick a Harley in a heartbeat, but they’d bought the house last year. Now they were saving so when they started a family, she could take an extended leave from Woodhue, Orson, Bernstein, and Jessup, Attorneys at Law. Her job as executive assistant to one of the partners, Elizabeth Alexander, often demanded long hours, even though Elizabeth was a wonderful boss and mentor.
Linc shrugged. “Just doing a little research. I have other priorities.” He spun his chair around. A light glinted in his hazel eyes.
Her stomach fluttered. No matter what disagreements they had, that look never failed to turn her knees to jelly. They shared an incredible chemistry.
He brushed his knuckles against her breasts as he unbuttoned her blouse. Despite her kindling desire, she cringed when he tossed it onto the floor into a crumpled heap. The blouse was silk, the buttons real pearls, and even though she’d gotten it on sale, it had been quite expensive, costing even more than the designer jeans she had on. But she couldn’t explain that to him. Couldn’t admit she’d broken another promise. He unclasped her bra and flung that aside too, and then her worries evaporated when he cupped her breasts in his large hands and sucked a tip into his mouth, his tongue like raspy velvet against her nipple. Linc scraped his chin across her breast, leaving a wake of delicious tingles to tease its identical twin.
In no hurry, he maintained a slow, sensual assault on her senses. Regina curled her fingers into his thick hair and
She could justify what she’d done until she found her husband sprawled in his computer chair window-shopping for motorcycles. He stretched out his lanky form like he relaxed in a recliner, and he whistled through his teeth as he clicked through hogs, Harley wannabes, and other bikes.
Regina Ellison crept across the carpet that imbued their home with the heady scent of newness and covered his eyes with her hands. “Guess who?” She disguised her voice.
“Mildred! I thought you’d left. I told you my wife would be home soon.”
She giggled and slid her hands over his muscled chest to hug him, snuggling her face against his neck. She loved his smell, so masculine and warm. Springy, dark hair curled against the collar of his favorite shirt, relegated by negotiation to weekend wear. He’d had it so long the collar and cuffs had frayed. She’d given up on getting him to throw it away but had extracted his agreement not to wear it in public, because people would think they were dirt-poor. Fortunately he dressed better for work. A successful architect, Linc had designed some of the more innovative office buildings in town.
He bounced his head against her breasts. Amusement tickled her mouth—Linc took advantage of every opportunity to touch her tits. Not that she minded.
“Did you have a good lunch with your mother?” he asked.
“Uh-huh.”
“Where’d you go?”
“Poppy Seed Café. Had Caesar salad with chicken. ” Guilt slithered through her at her omission. “We lost track of time,” she offered in case he wondered why she’d been gone so long.
“So how is she doing?”
“Great. She loves her job. She’s been attending AA meetings regularly.”
“I’m glad you two are talking.”
She nodded. “I am too. She’s a different person since she stopped drinking. I only wish she’d gotten sober a long time ago.” Like for their wedding when her mother had gotten drunk and loud and caused a scene. Or during her childhood when Regina would arrive from school to find her passed out on the couch at three o’clock in the afternoon. She’d never invited friends home. As soon as she was old enough, she had gotten a job, because having nice things was essential to maintaining the illusion that she was a happy girl from a normal family.
She forced back memories of troubled times and gestured at the computer screen. “See anything you like?” If a magic genie appeared to grant Linc a wish, he’d pick a Harley in a heartbeat, but they’d bought the house last year. Now they were saving so when they started a family, she could take an extended leave from Woodhue, Orson, Bernstein, and Jessup, Attorneys at Law. Her job as executive assistant to one of the partners, Elizabeth Alexander, often demanded long hours, even though Elizabeth was a wonderful boss and mentor.
Linc shrugged. “Just doing a little research. I have other priorities.” He spun his chair around. A light glinted in his hazel eyes.
Her stomach fluttered. No matter what disagreements they had, that look never failed to turn her knees to jelly. They shared an incredible chemistry.
He brushed his knuckles against her breasts as he unbuttoned her blouse. Despite her kindling desire, she cringed when he tossed it onto the floor into a crumpled heap. The blouse was silk, the buttons real pearls, and even though she’d gotten it on sale, it had been quite expensive, costing even more than the designer jeans she had on. But she couldn’t explain that to him. Couldn’t admit she’d broken another promise. He unclasped her bra and flung that aside too, and then her worries evaporated when he cupped her breasts in his large hands and sucked a tip into his mouth, his tongue like raspy velvet against her nipple. Linc scraped his chin across her breast, leaving a wake of delicious tingles to tease its identical twin.
In no hurry, he maintained a slow, sensual assault on her senses. Regina curled her fingers into his thick hair and
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